SELF-CONTROL IN DISTRESSED COUPLES - A PILOT-STUDY

A protocol for the short treatment of fighting couples is described. T he treatment consists of three training sessions in which homework ass ignments are given, aimed at enhancing self-control. The participants received exact instructions on how to monitor their anger, to take tim e out and to write to the partner in a structured manner, instead of e xpressing their anger in the usual way. A pre-/post-pilot study with n ineteen couples shows that the couples improve significantly more duri ng the training than in the pre-treatment baseline period. During the follow-up phase, the improvements are maintained.